Traditions and customs of the Old South, half-forgotten in the building of the new South, bob to the surface during the Christmas season. Firecrackers are common, Yule logs burn, and cowpeas and hog jowl are popular dishes. While the origin of these customs remains obscure, some trace them directly to the restricted life of early great plantations and poor communication facilities, which made them communities within themselves. Customs brought by the pioneer settlers of Europe were also preserved and altered to meet conditions of the area.